17th Feb 2023: Water Watch Penang and Xylem South East Asia have successfully collaborated for its first CSR programme on River and Water Education Programme at Penang Free School on the 17th of February 2023.
Despite the last day of the school term, the programme was attended by more than twenty Form 3 students. Executive Committee of WWP, together with the Senior Leadership Team of Xylem South East Asia, the session commenced with an opening speech by Dr Hong Chern Wern, the Executive Manager of Water Watch Penang, followed by inspiration speech by an Mr. Koh Chong Hin, South East Asia Managing Director, Xylem Water Solutions Singapore PTE. As an old Free, Mr Koh shared his experience and journey to Xylem Water Solutions as well as giving inspiration to the students of Penang Free School. Next, Prof. Dr. Chan Ngai Weng, the President of Water Watch Penang, introduced about Water Watch Penang and its 25-year journey in educating the public in water conservation with the aim to create a water saving society.
Next, Dr Hong continued with spreading awareness to the students on the global, national and local water issues that consists of pollutions, lack of access of water supply, over-consumption, and climate change.
Mr Nicholas Lee, Director of Product Marketing from Xylem, continued by facilitating the session on chemical and physical assessment of a river that consists of several parameters, such as pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, flow rate, phosphate, nitrite, nitrate and ammonia content of a river. Those parameters are indicators of whether the condition of the rivers have been polluted or remained pristine. As a short practical session, the students get to test and compare parameters of rainwater, river water, tap water and soap water.
Dr Hong, proceeded with the biological assessment of a river that demonstrated a river health by identification of macroinvertebrates present in a freshwater ecosystem, i.e. river.
The final session on water treatment processes was conducted by Mr. Siow Phek Chuan, the Director of Application Engineering & Tender Support. Mr Siow Phek Chuan, showed the students the standard processes of water treatment and related to the Baling Flood incident that has caused Penang’s first ever water disruption due to river pollution that has caused high turbidity in the river.
At the end of the session, quizzes were conducted with souvenirs from WWP and Xylem presented to the winners.
Water Watch Penang would like to thank the Principal of Penang Free School, En Syed Sultan bin Shaik Oothuman and Penolong Kanan (Ko-ko), En Nasaruddin B. Ishak, the teacher and the students for hosting this CSR event.
Water Watch Penang would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Xylem SEA for the collaboration. We look forward for more collaboration and long-term partnership.
For more information, contact us at info.waterwatchpenang@gmail.com